A 13-year-old cancer survivor helped raise more than $23,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

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Channel 4 Action News first reported on Zack Abel's fight with cancer several years ago. Now, as a survivor, he's come a long way, helping other kids live their lives.

The 13-year-old Ingomar Middle School student organized an Aug. 19 bike/walk/run fundraiser for Make-A-Wish at North Park on Sunday.

"I'm so proud of him," Zack's mom, Natalie Abel, said. "This was completely his idea. He begged me to do this. He got this idea in his head. When Zack gets an idea in his head, he doesn't give up."

Abel said Zack is paying it forward, knowing the struggles of so many other children who just need their spirits lifted.

"That's why I want to do this fundraiser," Zack said. "To help kids get new thoughts about that and what happened and new memories."

His goal was to raise $3,900, which is the cost of one Make-A-Wish wish.

"They've just done so much for me, and I just wanted to give back to them," he said.

Instead, he raise more than $23,000.

"It was phenomenal. It was outstanding. I couldn't even begin to talk to the people or thank them enough for coming, because I crushed my goal and helped Make-A-Wish a lot," he said.

Seven years ago, an 8-foot-tall T-Rex named Meaty paid a visit to Zack, who dreamed of becoming a paleontologist. Zack's wish was granted through Make-A-Wish.

"I still have people come up to me today and say how big I've gotten since then," Zack said.

Now, Zack said that visit is a constant reminder of how his wish was granted and how he beat cancer.

"I was lucky I got it because there's kids that go through it … and they don't get their childhood like they wanted to," Zack said. "So I want to raise money so more kids can get their wish and have a memory they'll remember forever."

The teen is now already planning his next fundraiser.

"We had three months to plan this fundraiser, and we're just going to make this one bigger by planning it for a full year," he said.